Ang pagakyat ay hindi para sa lahat. Pero paanu mo malalaman kung hindi mo susubukan? Tara na! Subukan nating puntahan ang mga lugar na sadyang natatangi ang ganda! Kahit magisa ka lang, ok lang. Kasi dito sa SPiMC, walang OP. Lahat ay kaibigan! ]]>Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:14:55 GMThttp://spimc1999.weebly.com/blogs/my-fear-of-heightsSomeone once said that "there is nothing to fear but fear itself." I climbed up an almost 90-degree wall and couldn't look down. Going up is not a problem. Going down is! Upon reaching the top, I went straight to the center of the peak. There was about a meter space between me and the edge. It was a windy place. My second time there. My heart was pounding so hard. My fear of heights started to ruin the fun for others. I was constantly reminding people to stop going to the edge to have their pictures taken. But my reminders fell on deaf ears. It was their second time in 24 hours to be up that spot. The day before, they already summitted the rockies. Back in the office, I looked at the pictures and couldn't help feel a tinge of envy. Most had pictures of themselves in dangerous but utterly beautiful spots, the setting sun behind them with the dark waters of Laguna Lake down below. The pictures were truly amazing! But alas, I was not brave enough to have my pictures taken in those spots. The best I could muster was go down the other edge halfway. It is truly weird for a mountaineer to be afraid of heights, but that is the reality for me! :( I am slowly getting over it. I believe I have gone a long way but there is much to see beyond the middle of the peak. There is much to appreciate at the edge of the summit!]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:20:23 GMThttp://spimc1999.weebly.com/blogs/this-is-my-storyI had a not so exciting life back then in SPI, used to work as a records processing asst. for HR. My daily routine was work from 6am to 2pm – 1st shift, then work extra hours after 2 pm until late evening, then go home, sleep and wake up the next morning to do the same thing again. The only fun and excitement I would have in our daily office life was during break times at the canteen spent with my friends/colleagues in HR. I did not have any social life out of the HR circle as interactions with other employees would be only during times when they would approach me on certain requests regarding their benefits and employee status concerns…until one uneventful day, one colleague mentioned that she’s joined a group of employees in Pre-press dept, that they had a great time, experiencing the outdoors and mountaineering. They we’re recruiting new members back then, being so bored with the monotonous routine, I signed-up with my best friend, who was the HR director’s secretary that time.

The first time we we’re introduced with the head of the group and members for our orientation, I had no idea that my life was going to change big-time! We were so excited for the first climb to Mt. Romelo in Laguna the 21st October 2000.

We were all prepared in every aspect that we we’re told to prepare for during the pre-climb orientation…well I thought I was, but then there was one thing I was notprepared for, which was the unexpected and it has brought about one of the most beautiful and most significant change in my life.

The first climb for me was the greatest of all the climbs I have joined, amidst the struggle we had climbing such a muddy trail, it did not break our spirits, for the first time I was doing something exciting. What an extraordinary experience, got to know great people who became very special friends, almost like brothers and sisters to me, who up to now are still the best of friends I ever had, wherever they may be now, even the great distance can’t alter the friendship we all share.

Amazing how your life can change. Some may call it fate but I see it more as my destiny. After almost a decade of climbing mountains, appreciating nature’s beauty and living the life of a true mountaineer, we are now blessed with 2 nature loving “offsprings”, Daniel and DJ. Daniel has started mountaineering when he was 2y/o and has summited Mt. Pulag at the age of 5 while DJ will be making his first climb soon.

I may not be climbing mountains where I am now but the heart of a mountaineer is within me and memories of those times will forever be cherished and remembered always!

My name is Lily Reyes-Macayan, batch Alpha, employee number AH09 and this is my story as an SPI mountaineer.

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A few minutes into the climb, I got into an accident. I was walking a bit fast and tripped on a big rock. It did not move, held it's ground and instead, pulled me down to the ground. My whole body crashed and my right knee hit another rock. Blood started to form on my skin as my knee began to swell. This all happened as two horses walked behind me. Fearing they would walk over me, I, with some help, moved to the side of the path under the hot sun. My knee started to swell out of proportion. First aid was given, but I refused to let this stop me. I climbed still all the way up to the camp site. Though it took us a lot longer than planned, I still got to the camp site.

The rest of the climbers went up the peak as I stayed at camp, cooking and preparing for the climbers arrival. Good thing this wasn't my first time at Batulao. I had already reached the peak before. Being left behind wasn't a big deal to me. The next day, the bigger task of descending faced me. My knee had swelled a bit more and my wound was beginning to water. The bandage was sticking to my skin, making it really hard and painful to change. A few minutes into the descent, I agreed to ride a horse instead. Our porters' father had a horse who patiently brought me down the sometime steep slope. My fear level was beyond 100% while up behind the horse's back. The sometimes steep slopes made me hold tighter and pray harder.

We all thought it was a perfect climb until that very moment. It still was a perfect climb... As my emergency physician has said, "just PRICE it...Protect, Rest, ICE.. and you'll be back to climbing in 2 weeks. Just take it slow."

For two days I was scared of going to the hospital, fearing what I would be told. But as with all things, prayer helps... Before climbing, make it a habit to ask Him for protection.

This annotated checklist, I hope, will help everyone planning a climb.

CAMPING + CLOTHINGFor overnight climbs, a 40L backpack will do while multi-day trips may require larger packs; make sure to have a raincover with you to protect your pack from rain. Bring tents that would be exact for each group. Don't forget the pegs that would protect your tent from being collapsed or blown away by wind and the flysheet that will protect your tent from being rained down. A sleeping bag is not a necessity especially when the planned campsite is predictably flat; some tents may have a built-in groundsheet but bringing one is always recommended. An earthpad serves a dual purpose of scaffolding the items in your pack and providing insulation at night.

Sets of clothes: 1 set going up, 1 set in camp, 1 set going down: but actually you can just bring two sets, one going up, and the other at camp you can wear going down; just add a pajama or sweater for the camp itself if it will be cold. For multi-day, rainy climbs, you can have two sets: the wet set during climbing and dry set during camping.

Waterproofing. It is best to make sure everything, especially clothes, are protected from rain. You do not need fancy waterproof packs to achieve this; simply putting your clothes inside plastic bags can serve the purpose. However, items that are waterproof are always cool and useful; look for GORE-TEX fabric in clothes, jackets, and shoes as a mark of waterproofing. Otherwise, make you sure you bring a poncho or raincoat to protect your body in case of rain. Also, choose clothes that easily dry and does not get get heavy with rain. This is the reason why jeans are a no-no!

Cold protection. You can either go for quanity (many layers of clothes) or quality (just a few with the right fabrics and sufficient protection). Not all good fabrics vs. the cold are good against rain, however, such as jackets with goose feathers or those thick ones for winter. So in the setting of cold weather, it is best to have warm insides and a waterproof outside (a Gore-Tex jacket) to keep everything dry. Body warmers such as bonnets, gloves, socks, and thermal underwear are good items. Since tolerance to cold vary from person to person, only experience can definitively tell you how many layers you should bring for a Pulag climb. Three to four is enough on the average, though.

Thin, long-sleeved shirts or rashguards would also serve the purpose of protecting the skin vs. thorns and insects and they are worn with shirts in the same way that leggings are worn with shorts. They have the added benefit of some protection vs. the sun, although wearing sunblock (SPF > 30) is still recommended in exposed trails.

Other items you can bring is a pair of sunglasses/shades to shield your eyes from the intense sunlight at high elevations and a trekking pole (sometimes two) to assist you in steep trails. A trekking pole may not have a purpose at the start, but it could be a precious tool when you get a sprain.

DRINKING + EATING + COOKINGWater. When bringing water, take the presence and interval of water sources as a guide on how much to bring. In general, 1 liter can last for two hours on mild to moderate sunlight on mild to moderate trails. So if the average interval of water sources for each climb is four hours, it is best to have at least 2-3L water in addition to what you will need in camp for cooking. A cool item is of course the hydration pack (sometimes referred to as a bladder) which can store water inside your pack; you can just sip it from a valve.

Trail food. It is entirely up to you what kind of trail food you want to bring. Personally, I always bring a mix of dried fruits (dried mangoes, raisins); energy bars (chocolate, oatmeal bars); the traditional gelatin (i.e. JellyAce -- but I love those with fruit bits or nata inside); and candies. Don't forget to keep track of your wrappers! Some climbers prepare their own trail food by filling Ziplocks with ChocNut, bits of Oreo and M&Ms, plus gummy bears, for their personal snack. Don't buy low-calorie stuff, though - you need the energy!

Meals. It has been mountaineering tradition to cook in camp - i.e. buy meat from the local market, rice, etcetera. However, don't feel embarrassed if you will resort to canned goods. The important thing is leaving nothing at the campsite, especially those tin cans. Cooking rice up in the mountains is just like doing it in town, but water boils faster in high altitudes so make adjustments. Pasta - or sotanghon - is advocated by some as an easier alternative to rice. Oil of course is very important and personally I always want something to spice things up like peppers or chili powder.

Stove. A majority of portable stoves in the Philippines are still butane-based although there is an emerging number of multi-fuel ones. Make sure you have enough fuel for the climb; one butane cylinder usually lasts for 1-2 meals. I usually bring 1 cylinder for each night, plus an extra. As for the stove, of course you have to bring one. Setting up a fire for cooking in campsites is not a recommended practice. Bring a ligher or matches just in case the igniter of your stove conks out.

Cooking and eating utensils. Your cooking utensils can double as your eating utensils. The higher-end ones are made of titanium although the classic Kovea cooker set is a very good deal. Bring spoons/forks/knives; they can all be combined in a camping Swiss knife so learn how to economize on space and items.

After meals. If water is limited, the utensils may be cleaned by a wet tissue/towel with alcohol. Don't leave utensils with food lest you attract mountain rats and other guests. If there is a water source, do your cleaning downstream so as not to contaminate the source.

TOILETRIESNeedless to say, you have to mind your personal needs even when in the mountains. First on the checklist is a trowel (though one per group will do) which you will use to dig a hole for your waste; the rest are quite self-explanatory. You may not need these during the climb itself, but at the jumpoff, a postclimb shower may be a good reward -- and something you need to sleep all the more soundly on the bus back home.

GADGETRYThis is like a PC game in real life - you can actually use cool gadgets in real life as you climb. Of course, the most basic ones are a flashlight or headlamp (go for long battery life) and a camera. Virtually everybody has a digital camera by now and of course outdoor photography is best served by a dSLR. Navigation and expedition people, on the other hand, bring GPS / altimeter watches: these are vital on explorations. Otherwise, a compass is basic. In all these, don't forget to bring extra batteries because cold temperatures drain batteries. And, if it rains, make sure you have a waterproof solution.

PROTECTION + EMERGENCYI always bring a notebook with me and a pen to document the climb; but it can also be handy in emergencies. You can use ribbons to mark your path on an uncharted trail, and a whistle will spare you from the need to shout at the top of your voice. A utility rope is not really advised in most mountains, but a first aid kit is very important. If you have an existing condition like asthma, never ever forget your personal medications! And when somebody finds you unconscious, make sure a contact number can be found somewhere.

CHECKLISTBallpen / paper/ ribbons / whistleLighter /matchesInsect repellant / Sunscreen or sunblock (>SPF 30)First aid kit / Personal medicationsUtility rope*ID with emergency phone numbers]]>Sat, 16 May 2009 12:24:13 GMThttp://spimc1999.weebly.com/blogs/bmc-12Why is it essential to take a BMC Course? Can't we just learn everything through experience just like most of the others have?

Well, it is good to learn by experience. They say learnings from experience stick more. But no one ever goes through all the necessary experiences that will fully prepare one for the uncertainties of the outdoors. It is alwasy good to gain other perspectives and best practices from seasoned and experienced climbers.

The SPi Mountaineering Club has not had any close encountered with severe harm because of careful planning and a lot of practice. Though we are still continuing to develop and be better, we know that we have experience and prayer on our side.

]]>Wed, 13 May 2009 05:44:46 GMThttp://spimc1999.weebly.com/blogs/mt-palosmy-first-climbIt’s not the mountain we conquer but ourselves-Sir Edmund Hillary

Enough sleep, they say, is needed before a climb. You need the energy. I just realized a few minutes into the “fun” climb that I should have forced myself to sleep the night before, but how could I, the overflowing excitement in every inch of my body wouldn’t allow such sweet sleep.

I’ve been planning on conquering a mountain since my brother bought his first tent (that has been ages ago). I was intrigued by his dirty climbing shoes, his long hair and the unmistakable stench of his laundry (dried sweat and dirt embedded in every thread) when he would come home after a climb. My sisters and I dubbed his look the “ermitanyo” look, with a giant mountain pack at his back, a walking stick, his fatigue style clothing and his long unruly hair. I wanted to be a physically active person too, to do some things that my small built and weak knees would allow. I started small by trying out simple physical activities like mini-olympics and swimming classes, then went on to try wall climbing, rappelling and knee boarding. It has been all fun! But these are all simple activities. Nothing that would take long. So when I saw a teaser for the next climb of the mountaineering club, I had to join! I was the only one from the SPi support group who braved the climb. Thought they say that the activity was just a “fun” climb, I didn’t care less.

Buntot Palosdoesn’t seem like such a high climb from the bottom of our path. That is just from the bottom of the path but the path is winding and the hard reality struck me a few meters up. Climbing is not an easy thing. I’ve sweat more in the few minutes of climbing then I have ever had in my entire life. I should not have worn jeans and new shoes. I should have brought only thebare necessities and left my extra shirts.I should have brought more water. I could rant on and on but at the end of the day, all the bruises were well worth it!

It was the breathtaking sight of the fields down below that made me forget about my cramping legs and the hot sweat coming out of my pores. The trek up then down to the hidden waterfalls, watching the log-bearing Horses and Carabaos and eating those sumptuous meals are the things that I will never forget. It’s amazing how things so beautiful can be kept alive by nature. If pictures could keep the hidden water falls in pristine condition, I would have filled my phone with photos of the rainbow across the falls, the surrounding walls of trees and the other wonderful sights. There are so many things that I would gladly have done again. Among them are sitting far from the ledge onto a raging river, falling into the water (when I made a promise never to get my shirt wet), swimming across a small lake and taking a bath under a falls, walking through a half-foot wide path with a canal at one side and the deep falls on the other (that took some time and self persuasion to achieve). The many pictures that we took of the place will forever be stored in my phone and in my heart.

I do not know what makes people want to climb mountains but for me, it’s not just the thrill of facing danger on uneven and dangerously angled paths or learning how to do butt-breaks and relying on a walking stick to keep balance. The terrain might be hard and unforgiving for a beginner like me, but every step of the way is an experience worth cherishing and reliving. One day I will be able to compare mountains and paths and elevations and one day I will be able to really say that I am a mountaineer.

Buntot Palos is my first climb. It will forever be etched in my heart and mind as the first time Iconquered a height. I have a list of things to do before I become too old to do anything and now one of them is climbing more mountains, the higher and more mysterious the better. I have not just conquered a mountain but I am now slowly overcoming my fear of heights. With that, I’m now dreaming of the next summit I can conquer.